A blog by our Chaplain, Grace:

As we journey through Lent this year, there are so many aspects of the final journey of Christ that comes to my mind.  One aspect that always hits me is the kiss of betrayal that Judas gives Jesus.

Mark 14:44-47 says, Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them.  The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi”, and kissed him.  The men seized Jesus and arrested him.  Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

The kiss that Judas gave Jesus was one of betrayal signalling the guards to arrest Jesus.  How do I feel when someone close to me betrays me or lets me down?  How does it feel when someone you trust humiliates you publicly and walks away unashamedly as if nothing has happened?  I wonder, how did Jesus feel?  He was human as much as he was God.  Jesus felt the same pain and temptations as you and me.  Mark 14: 50 says “Then everyone deserted him and fled”.  So here was Jesus, betrayed, let down, humiliated, deserted and all alone.  What did he feel?

There are so many things that does not make sense to me but one thing I do know is that Jesus can understand my pain and sorrow.  He understands our loneliness, our battles, our frailties, our feelings, our emotions, our moments of despair, our rejections, our struggles;

But the story does not end there but ends with the resurrection of Christ.  He became victorious, defying death.  This is the easter story of resurrection where death is defeated.  The Psalmist says in Psalm 30:5… “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning”.

As I journey through Lent this year, I choose to explore my feelings with Christ, giving myself the space and opportunity to experience some deep emotions, I might have buried deep within myself and choosing to give it to Christ trusting and knowing that He can take care of it; knowing that He faced the same things and even more; knowing that He can handle it; knowing that He can do something about it and knowing that even in my darkest hour joy can come because of the victory that I can have in Christ.

The kiss of betrayal did lead to death but resurrection happened after three days.  This makes me wonder sometimes, just sometimes… not every kiss of betrayal is a bad thing.  Jesus fulfilled his destiny, and He did not let anything define Him but continued in his journey to the cross and became victorious.

I too have to travel the journey of my life trusting God that all things will work together for my good.  Believing in myself that there will be good times ahead and not allowing anyone or anything to define me or my destiny.

Easter blessings